Friday, November 20, 2009

Continuing with favorite songs of 2009, I will always welcome new music from the Bats. There aren't any bad songs on The Guilty Office, but this track ("Crimson Enemy" is a particular favorite.

I'm heading to the land of the Bats (NZ) for a couple of weeks starting tonight, so updates will even be less regular than usual. Might post a few more favorite songs from 2009 over the next couple of weeks, but otherwise, I'll be back in December with another holiday extravaganza.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

More favorite songs from 2009. The Communion double album by The Soundtrack Of Our Lives kind of mopes and meanders in places over 24 songs and 90+ minutes, but this song ("Flipside") wins the award as my most played song of 2009.

In its honor, I'm titling my (still developing) best of 2009 mix The Future of Reality.

Friday, November 13, 2009

After three days of struggling, I've sort of bailed on the "best of the decade" theme, and have moved on to "favorite songs of 2009". I've started working on an end of year compilation before the end of the year, and will share a few of my favorites during what remains of November.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Continuing with my best of 2009, I think this song ("This Tornado Loves You" performed on -- where else? -- The Late Show) is one of the best things that Neko Case has ever done.

It's hard to put albums from the current year on any "best of the decade" list, but Middle Cyclone is near the top of my 2000s. And the Nilsson and Sparks covers make it one of the top albums of 1974, with an album cover that cries out for full-LP size!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Starting with 2009, and another R.E.M.-related album of sorts, Goodnight Oslo by the Robyn Hitchcock Venus 3. Even better than Ole Tarantula, which was better than anything Robyn had done since the turn of the century. Here's "Saturday Groovers", a "disappointment" according to Pitchfork. What do they know?

Saturday, November 7, 2009

The best R.E.M. album of the 2000s was still a few notches than great, but at least it brought The Rock back to their repertoire. The opener "Living Well Is The Best Revenge" is still a call to arms for me.

I'm having challenges coming up with albums for 2008, so I'm coming back next week with my best of 2009.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

After Field Music (2005/06) and Future Clouds & Radar (2007), 2008 brought another wonderful self-titled debut album by another F band.

I thought these guys were one trick ponies at first, but the more I listen to this album, the more I like it. Here's the best song from the album, "Blue Ridge Mountains", performed live on the Late Show.

I don't watch Letterman's much anymore because it's on too late, but he's had a ton of great musical performances over the past few years. Searching for "(artist) Late Show" on youtube turns up a treasure trove of great stuff!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Continuing with the best of the 2000s, I probably need to include the self-titled debut by Future Clouds and Radar, Robert Harrison's post-Cotton Mather band. This 27 song double album was a little overwhelming at first, but grows more impressive with each successive listen, because there isn't a bad song on the entire album!